Rome, "Rome", Unity

There is what Protestants want to criticize as Rome, there is the "Rome" in all our hearts and there is the New Testament and many professing Christian's cries for unity. Here are my thoughts on several aspects of these 3 things.

First I'll say I've never to this very day been in 100% in agreement, lockstep with ANY local, denominational or stream of church's doctrine or theology. For more than half a century of walking with Jesus, scripture and a vast and wide assortment of believers in the U.S. and larger world in all sorts of close fellowship and mission I still say this. We are all evolving in our faith or lack of it due to a long list of reasons that often trouble us or bring us some sense of closure and at times, comfort. I believe this to be true of all regardless of affiliation or lack of it. The church local or larger in the world has never been monolithic so of course this isn't a new thought.

The issue of disagreement and even disgust at what people thought, said and did "in the Name of Jesus" isn't uncommon among Catholics, "the church of Rome", any more than it is among Protestants world-wide. Horrors, atrocities and despots playing the game of power and greater wealth have appeared and blighted all sorts of elements of any genuine witness for Christ throughout history. Paul and others name names among the churches of the New Testament and the Old Testament is laced with false followers of God, demigods, self-worshipers all, so there truly is nothing new about any of this. By the way, the very same is true among humans outside of any sort of spirituality or church, let's not pretend that isn't so!

The fact is that there is another kind of "Rome": the propensity to serve self over God and others and the resulting crimes -is in -all- our hearts. Only humble, repentant, genuine daily relationship to Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior brings hope of deliverance from this in each one of us.

Lastly, when we cite verses and call for unity among believers, what are we really seeking? Uniformity is not unity as an exact synonym. To be truly "one in mind and heart, in complete agreement" as God's Word calls us to has everything to do with God's love, genuine humility, confession and repentance of what the Bible itself defines and lists as sin, working for reconciliation where at all possible, a Book of Acts heart towards those we at times near-fully disagree with among un/pre-believers as well as those within various churches we believe we have every right to disown and not fellowship with. Please read that again!

Is THIS the unity we are calling for- or is it honestly more about gaining allies for our personal pet cause or people in the seats in our local church or solidifying our political (in or outside of the church) base?

What we mean when we trash-talk Rome even as we ignore the "Rome" in our own hearts, then in the next breath emphasize unity- is too often merely"think and be like ME or you're evil". Don't we all have some repenting to do?

Important things to consider as we journey in an increasingly divided, suspect world? I believe so.

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn